“But what,” said Mr. Jaggers, swinging his purse, “what if it was in my instructions to make you a present, as compensation?”

“As compensation what for?” Joe demanded.

“For the loss of his services.”

Joe laid his hand upon my shoulder with the touch of a woman.  I have often thought him since, like the steam-hammer, that can crush a man or pat an egg-shell, in his combination of strength with gentleness.  “Pip is that hearty welcome,” said Joe, “to go free with his services, to honour and fortun’, as no words can tell him.  But if you think as Money can make compensation to me for the loss of the little child — what come to the forge — and ever the best of friends!—­”

O dear good Joe, whom I was so ready to leave and so unthankful to, I see you again, with your muscular blacksmith’s arm before your eyes, and your broad chest heaving, and your voice dying away.  O dear good faithful tender Joe, I feel the loving tremble of your hand upon my arm, as solemnly this day as if it had been the rustle of an angel’s wing!

But I encouraged Joe at the time.  I was lost in the mazes of my future fortunes, and could not retrace the by-paths we had trodden together.  I begged Joe to be comforted, for (as he said) we had ever been the best of friends, and (as I said) we ever would be so.  Joe scooped his eyes with his disengaged wrist, as if he were bent on gouging himself, but said not another word.

Mr. Jaggers had looked on at this, as one who recognized in Joe the village idiot, and in me his keeper.  When it was over, he said, weighing in his hand the purse he had ceased to swing: 

“Now, Joseph Gargery, I warn you this is your last chance.  No half measures with me.  If you mean to take a present that I have it in charge to make you, speak out, and you shall have it.  If on the contrary you mean to say—­” Here, to his great amazement, he was stopped by Joe’s suddenly working round him with every demonstration of a fell pugilistic purpose.

“Which I meantersay,” cried Joe, “that if you come into my place bull-baiting and badgering me, come out!  Which I meantersay as sech if you’re a man, come on!  Which I meantersay that what I say, I meantersay and stand or fall by!”

I drew Joe away, and he immediately became placable; merely stating to me, in an obliging manner and as a polite expostulatory notice to any one whom it might happen to concern, that he were not a going to be bull-baited and badgered in his own place.  Mr. Jaggers had risen when Joe demonstrated, and had backed near the door.  Without evincing any inclination to come in again, he there delivered his valedictory remarks.  They were these: 

“Well, Mr. Pip, I think the sooner you leave here — as you are to be a gentleman — the better.  Let it stand for this day week, and you shall receive my printed address in the meantime.  You can take a hackney-coach at the stage-coach office in London, and come straight to me.  Understand, that I express no opinion, one way or other, on the trust I undertake.  I am paid for undertaking it, and I do so.  Now, understand that, finally.  Understand that!”